Draft-equalizer.



OSCAR J. BOE, OF BALFOUR, NORTH DAKOTA.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed February 23,1906. Serial N01 302,558-

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR J. Bon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Balfour, in the county of McHenry and State of North Dakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers,of

A further object is to so design the device that the lead-horses can bedetached and all the load thrown upon the pole-horses Withoutnecessitating any change in the equalizer. This feature will be foundvery advantageous in close quarters, where it is necessary to detach aportion of the horses.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of theimproved equalizing device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a view from the rear end of the tongue. Fig. 4 is a sectional viewshowing a modified form of guide for the equalizing-lever, and Fig. 5 isa detail per spective View of one of the clips.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the pole or tongue of the vehicle oragricultural implement, and 2 the main or rear doubletree, which ispivoted to the pole. This doubletree 2 is formed with bifurcated ends,within which the levers 3 are mounted, and is connected to the upperface of the pole 1 by means of a belt, which is used in connection withthe hammer-strap 4. In the preferred form of the device the doubletree 2is formed of two spaced memhere which are connected at an intermediatepoint by means of a block 5. The ends of the spaced members constituteforks within which the levers 3 are pivoted. The outer ends of thelevers 3 are connected to the swingletrees 6, to which the pole-horsesare attached. The inner ends of the lovers 3 are reduced incross-section and pivotally connected to rods or tension members 7 bymeans of clips 8. It will be observed that these tension members 7extend forwardly along the pole 1 and have their opposite ends connectedto the equalizing-lever 9 by means of clips similar to those justmentioned. These clips 8 are preferably formed of metal and comprise twoarms which fit upon opposite sides of the levers and are pivoted theretoby bolts or similar fastening members. The equalizingdever 9 is slidablymounted within a guideway 10, which is secured to the lower face of thetongue 1 at an intermediate point. This guide member 10 may be formed ofa strip of metal having its ends bent upwardly and secured to thetongue.

The middle point of the equalizing-lever 9 is pivotally connected to arod or tension member 11, which extends inwardly along the tongue andterminates in an eye 12, which serves as a connecting means for thelead-horses, and is connected to a guidering 13, which encircles thetongue and prevents lateral pull upon the rod 11. The rod 11 preferablypasses through the forward end of the guide member 10, and for thispurpose a slot may be formed in one end of the bar before the same issecured in position. The lead-horses are hitched to the swingletrees 14,which are connected to the eye 12 by means of the chain 15 anddoubletree 16.

A modified form of guideway for the equalizing-lever 9 is also shown. Inthis construction a plate 17 is secured to the tongue under the member10, and the plate and bar are provided with longitudinal slots 18,within which the projecting ends of the pin 19' are adapted to slide.When thus formed, the equalizing-lever 9 can move freely back and forthwithin the guideway 10, but is prevented from having. any lateralmovement.

In the operation of the device the pull of the lead-horses istransmitted through the rod 11 to the equalizing-lever 9 and is theredivided evenly between the pole horses. Owing to the operation of thelevers 3, the pull will thus be equally distributed between alltlheihorses, and there will be no danger of side c ra t.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In adraft-equalizer, the combination of a tongue, a doubletree secured tothe rear end of the tongue, alever pivotally connected at anintermediate point to each end of the doubletree, means for connecting adraft-animal to the outer end of each of the levers, an

equalizing-bar secured to the forward end of the tongue and having botha pivotal and sliding connection therewith, connecting means between theinner ends of the beforementioned levers and the outer ends of theequalizing-bar, a tension member connected to the equalizing-barat apoint between its ends and extending forwardly along the tongue, andmeans for connecting the leadanimals to the tension member.

2. In a draft-equalizer, the combination of a tongue, a doubletreesecured to the rear end of the tongue, a lever pivotally connected at anintermediate point to each end of the doubletree, means for connecting adraft-animal to the outer end of each of the levers, a guideway securedto the tongue toward the forward end thereof and comprising a bar spacedfrom the tongue and having its ends bent inwardly and secured thereto, apin slidably mounted within the guideway, an equalizing-bar pivotallymounted upon the pin so as to have both a swinging and a slidingmovement, connecting means between the inner ends of thebefore-mentioned levers connected to the doubletree, and the outerends'of the equalizing-bar, a tension member connected to theequalizing-bar at a point between its ends, and means for connecting thelead-animals to the tension member.

3. In a draft-equalizer, the combination of a tongue, a doubletreepivotally connected to the rear end of the tongue, and having theopposite ends thereof bifurcated, alever pivotally mounted at anintermediate point in each of the bifurcated ends of the doubletree,means for connecting a draft-animal to the outer end of each of thelevers, a guideway secured to the tongue toward the forward end thereofand comprising a bar having its ends bent inwardly and secured to thetongue, the said bar having a slot therein and the tongue being formedwith a groove corresponding to the slot, a pin slidably mounted withinthe slot and groove, an equalizing-bar mounted upon the pin so as tohave both a swinging and sliding movement, connecting means between theinner ends of the before-mentioned levers and the outer ends of theequalizing-b ar, a tension member secured to the equalizingbar andextending forwardly along the tongue, and means for connecting thelead-animals to the tension member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR J. BOE. [L. s.l

Witnesses:

H. M. MURRAY, ,GEo. M. KREMER.

